For the big surprise

From its College Street storefront, Bairrada looks relatively indistinguishable from the many churassqueras found in Toronto’s west end; a quick peek inside reveals a take-out counter where locals place their orders for barbecue chicken and potatoes, and an array of non-descript tables for a quick, no-fuss dining experience. But take a walk through the restaurant… and keep going… just a little bit further… and then… bam: Bairrada’s back door opens up to reveal a massive, glorious backyard patio that makes you feel like you’ve been invited to an exclusive, massive garden party hosted by some eccentric aristocrat. It’s like Toronto’s own gateway to Narnia. But be forewarned: even though the patio boasts an impressive 4,000 square feet of space, expect to wait upwards of an hour for a table on summer-weekend evenings.